The Waratahs forwards have vowed not to allow Stormers hardmen AJ Venter and Schalk Burger to get under their skins when the two sides clash on Saturday.

In Australia the pair seem to have built a bit of a reputation for their ability to aggravate opponents and the Waratahs are bracing themselves for some underhanded fun and games.

When asked if he was worried about unfair play, lock Will Caldwell said: ‘I haven’t experienced any of that. South Africans do at stages try to get under your skin. We won’t enter into any of that niggle.’

Caldwell said he will avoid taking any bait by focusing on his own performance.

‘I just try to ignore it and concentrate on my game,’ said Caldwell. ‘Here are times when I do get a bit frustrated and I know blokes like Brett Sheehan do as well … we just try to keep it at a bare minimum.

‘We talk about it during the week. It’s important we play our own game and stay out of all that rubbish certain teams go on with.’